At the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF‑2026), a trilateral cooperation agreement was signed between the Government of the Kamchatka region, Vitus Bering Kamchatka State University (KamGU), and Skoltech.
The document was signed by Vladimir Solodov, Governor of the Kamchatka region; Olga Rebkovets, Acting Rector of KamGU; and Yulia Gorbunova, Skoltech President.
The agreement aims to establish, on the basis of KamGU, a national competence center for geothermal energy capable of addressing the challenges of transforming the regional economy and ensuring personnel sovereignty. The key area of cooperation will be the development of geothermal energy — one of the strategic industries for the peninsula.
The partnership plans to implement the following initiatives:
Creation of a national competence center for geothermal energy at KamGU.
Implementation of joint research and development work focused on practical application in regional companies.
Improving the quality of education by integrating KamGU students into Skoltech’s innovative programs and organizing academic exchanges.
Developing human resources for local enterprises through additional professional education programs in priority areas of science and technology.
The significance of the signed agreement for the region and the scientific community was emphasized by Governor Vladimir Solodov: “This agreement is a crucial step in implementing the flagship scientific project to create a competence center in geothermal energy at KamGU. Kamchatka has unique natural resources and must become an absolute leader in their use. We are betting on geothermal energy as a key strategic direction for the region’s development. I am confident that combining the efforts of the regional government, the region’s leading university, and the experts of Skoltech will allow us to successfully implement our plans.”
The role of the project in developing the region’s scientific and educational environment and its importance for the country’s technological sovereignty was highlighted by Olga Rebkovets, Acting Rector of Vitus Bering KamGU: “The signing of the agreement with Skoltech is an important stage in creating a competence center in geothermal energy in Kamchatka. The project is being implemented with the support of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science. For the Kamchatka region, this is an opportunity to bring together scientific research, personnel training, and testing of domestic technologies on a single platform. Moreover, this is not just a regional task: geothermal energy is of strategic importance for the development of energy technologies and for strengthening the country’s technological independence.”
Skoltech, for its part, expressed its readiness for long‑term cooperation with the Kamchatka region and regional scientific organizations. Skoltech Rector and Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Yulia Gorbunova emphasized: “Skoltech is ready to act as a partner for regional universities and research organizations, combining scientific expertise, technological developments, and strategic territorial development. We are glad that today Kamchatka — the Kamchatka region and Kamchatka State University — is with us. The competencies that Skoltech has developed in geothermal energy, volcanology, and natural process monitoring must serve the land of volcanoes. Skoltech is ready for ambitious joint work with its new partners.”
The parties also agreed to hold joint conferences, expert sessions, and exchange visits to develop common solutions on issues of mutual interest. The agreement is valid for five years.
An important platform for the development of joint geothermal energy projects will be the future “Pioneers’ Campus” in Petropavlovsk‑Kamchatsky, which is being created under the federal project “Creation of a Network of Modern Campuses” as part of the national project “Youth and Children” following an instruction from the President of Russia.
